releve Virginia Division of Natural Heritage, see http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/nh_plotform_instructions.pdf
Overall Taxon Cover Values are Automatically Calculated?
no
Stem Observation Area
400
m²
Plot Quality Fields:
Plot Validation Level
(2) classification plot: sufficient for inclusion in a classification revision
Overall Plot Vegetation Fields:
Tree Height
37
m
Shrub Height
6
m
Field Height
5
m
Tree Cover
70
%
Shrub Cover
30
%
Field Cover
50
%
Nonvascular Cover
0.5
%
Misc Fields:
Observation Narrative
Site is a forested, low floodplain terrace along the Mattaponi River, NW of the Rt. 605 bridge. There is some microtopographic variation in this habitat that produces differences in the soils and hydrology of shallow depressions (ca. 10% of plot area) and low hummocks (ca. 90% of plot area). Acer rubrum is the leading canopy dominant, with Quercus phellos next in importance, and Quercus michauxii, Liquidambar styraciflua, and Nyssa sylvatica scattered in the stand. The largest Acer (85 cm DBH) was nearly dead. Carpinus caroliniana is the most important understory species, while hydrophytic sedges (Carex intumescens, C. radiata) dominate a patchy herb layer. This is one of a very few stands (see also plot CARO003) along this reach of the Mattaponi that escaped recent cutting, probably because it is wedged between the road and a very wet backswamp and a bend in the river.
0-1 cm loose deciduous leaf litter
1-2 cm dark brown organic matter
2-12+ cm medium brown clay loam
** soil is somewhat poorly drained in depressions and better drained on hummocks